At IFA 2025, Baseus presented a complete headphone line-up from the Inspire model series, which comes with sound tuning from Bose. The over-ear model goes by the name Baseus Inspire XH1 and impresses with LDAC, powerful ANC and a whopping 100 hours of battery life at an almost unbeatable price. Find out more in our test.
Technical data
| The product | Inspire XH1 |
| Bluetooth version | 6.1 |
| Bluetooth codecs | AAC, SBC, LDAC |
| Maximum operating range | 15m (without obstacle) |
| Battery life |
|
| Charging time | 2 hours (for charging case via USB-C or wireless) |
| Most important functions | ANC; Transparency mode; Dolby Audio; Multipoint |
| Price | € 169.99 * |
Baseus Inspire XH1 test: Elegant design meets high comfort
- elegant, stylish design
- excellent wearing comfort
- mixed, somewhat cheap, workmanship
Baseus has opted for a modern and understated design that is both functional and elegant. The Baseus Inspire XH1 are made of robust plastic with a slightly matt surface that hides fingerprints and scratches well. Our test model in starlight white looks particularly elegant and stylish – but the Inspire XH1 is also available in black, coral or twilight blue.
A particularly positive aspect is that all components are precisely manufactured. Gaps, material quality and transitions meet even the highest standards. Only the transitions to the ear cups, which can be both folded and twisted in, are a little too loose and wobbly.
This doesn’t seem particularly robust, especially as the folding mechanism is so smooth that the ear cups fold inwards by themselves if you hold the headphones accordingly. A higher-quality finish would have been desirable here, also in view of the price.
The ear cups have sufficiently thick padding and are covered in artificial leather. Comfort remains high even during longer sessions, although the cups can become slightly warm in summer. The headband is also comfortably padded, making the Baseus Inspire XH1s extremely comfortable to wear.
Top modern features
- Impressive, modern features
- Bluetooth 6.1; 3.5 mm jack
- ANC and transparency mode
The features of the Baseus Inspire XH1 are outstanding, making even the current top models of the best ANC headphones look pretty old at times. Absolutely nothing is left to be desired here.
The headphones use the latest Bluetooth 6.1 standard, which not only ensures a reliable connection with a long range, but also keeps latency pleasantly low. Dolby Audio and the LDAC protocol for high-resolution sound (up to 990 kbps) are available for audiophile users, ensuring flexible use and high compatibility. The headphones support Bluetooth Multipoint so that two devices can be connected at the same time – important for people who switch between their smartphone and laptop, for example.
There is a wear detection function and a practical “Find My Headphones” function that helps in the event of loss via the app. Other extras include wired operation via 3.5 mm jack, sleep mode with relaxation sounds and remote control via app.
In addition to adaptive active noise cancellation with different environmental modes (indoor, outdoor, travel), there is a windscreen, transparency mode and a special gaming function with low latency.
Impressive operation of the Baseus Inspire XH1
- Reliable operation
- Clear, comprehensive app
Operation is largely via physical buttons on the headphones, with a clear and uncluttered layout for intuitive use. Every function – from play/pause and ANC modes to switching between Bluetooth devices – can be assigned directly. The buttons are easy to reach and provide excellent, direct feedback.
The deep integration with the Baseus app is particularly convenient: not only can sound modes and ANC levels be selected here, but individual settings can also be made. The integrated 8-band equalizer clearly sets the Inspire XH1 apart from the competition, as the sound can be comprehensively adjusted – you can also quickly create your own profiles.
The preset “Sound by Bose” profile should be emphasized, which ensures a balanced sound, but can be easily modified via the app. The app also offers battery statistics, firmware updates and the location function. All in all, the usability is not only comprehensive, but also implemented in an exemplary manner.
Up to 100 hours of battery life
- Up to 100 hours of use without ANC
- 65 hours of use with active noise cancellation
- Practical quick-charging function
Baseus sets a real exclamation mark with the Inspire XH1: With up to 100 hours of playback time without ANC and still 65 hours in active noise-canceling mode, the XH1 easily outperforms most of its competitors.
You won’t get a longer battery life anywhere else, absolutely perfect for longer trips, vacations or when you’re on the road a lot. If you activate Dolby Audio, the battery life is significantly reduced, but even then it still beats many of its competitors.
The quick-charging function is also impressive – just 10 minutes on the cable is enough for up to 12 hours of music, which is particularly practical before traveling or spontaneous excursions. Charging is fast and reliable via USB-C. Even after numerous charging cycles, the endurance remains stable and there is no drop in performance. Overall, this makes the XH1 one of the longest-lasting Bluetooth headphones ever.
Sound quality, ANC and microphones
An absolute highlight of the Baseus Inspire XH1 is undoubtedly the sound. The collaboration with Bose has definitely borne fruit here. The audio manufacturer has already contributed its iconic sound to several headphones, most recently to the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC (our test), for example, where the signature was also impressive.
The result is rich, powerful but detailed bass and convincing, detailed mids. Voices and rhythm instruments are clear and present. The original mix lacks some fine detail and brilliance in the treble range, but music lovers can adjust this using the equalizer.
If you like particularly intense bass, you can switch on the “SuperBass 3.0”, which boosts the low frequencies even further. This is activated by default, but can also be easily switched off in the companion app. Of course, this is particularly good for electro or hip-hop music, but I personally found it a bit too much of a good thing.
The spatial representation is solid, although not as expansive as some high-end models. However, this can be remedied somewhat with the Dolby Audio sound, although the results here depend heavily on the song in question and sometimes sound good, sometimes less convincing.
Of course, the Baseus Inspire XH1s can’t quite match the level of detail of the top models from Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and others. Instrumentation and vocals cannot be separated quite as well. Nevertheless, the headphones do a lot right in terms of sound and sound really good.
ANC, transparency mode and microphones
The active noise cancellation works effectively against low and medium ambient noise, but falls short of the top models from Bose or Sony when it comes to complex background noise.
The ANC of the Inspire XH1 can be adaptively adjusted, regulated in different levels or adapted to the respective environment. Depending on the mode, however, a background noise is sometimes more and sometimes less noticeable. Transparency mode is usable and naturally reproduces ambient noise.
The microphones deliver an acceptable level of intelligibility in phone mode, clearly picking up speech but swallowing up subtle nuances in strong winds or street noise. A slight background noise can be heard during voice recordings, but is hardly disturbing in everyday use.
Baseus Inspire XH1 Review: Conclusion
The brand new Baseus Inspire XH1 offers a surprising amount of high-end headphones at a mid-range price. The over-ear model impresses with its elegant design, incredibly long battery life and state-of-the-art features that leave absolutely nothing to be desired.
The Inspire XH1 also have a lot to offer in terms of sound and will particularly please all those who prefer a lively and rich sound. Thanks to the extensive equalizer, the audio quality can also be adjusted to suit personal preferences.
I don’t really have much to complain about. The only thing is the somewhat wobbly, rickety build quality – more could have been done here, even considering the price. Many competitors also do a better job with transparency mode and microphones.
But otherwise? The Baseus Inspire XH1 proves to be remarkably well-equipped and durable over-ear headphones whose flexibility goes far beyond the typical mid-range standards.
VORTEILE
- Stylish design
- State-of-the-art features
- LDAC
- Coherent sound
- Strong price-performance ratio
NACHTEILE
- Shaky processing
- Average transparency mode
- Microphones are only okay
Fazit
Stylish, good-sounding ANC headphones with modern features and powerful equipment.
